By Kathryn Weber
One of the most persevering elements is wood. Just think about the sheer force of will a simple blade of grass shows by growing in cement. This very nature of growth and overcoming is the very essence of the wood element – the element of new beginnings.
In feng shui there are five elements. Each element has its own personality and qualities, it also has benefits and drawbacks. Like all elements, wood is best when it is balanced with other elements. Wood’s biggest difference is that it is one element that having an abundance of is considered good for growing and healthy energy, or chi. This is especially true of the landscaping around your home. When it’s attractive, lush, and vibrant, that wonderful energy is one of the best ways to invite excellent energy to the whole household!
Wood is the element associated with health, family, the oldest son, and the east and southeast corners of the home. It is also associated with accumulated savings, investments and assets. Wood is the element most associated with growth and yang energy, and the number three. It’s why you see three-tied Chinese coins – so your wealth grows like wood! But wood has a downside, too. Knowing its positives and negatives will help you to understand how to use wood to your advantage, and control it when it’s in excess.
Read these nine tips for using the wood element in your home and life for good health, new beginnings and getting unstuck!
Wood brings good health.
When we think of good health, fruits, vegetables and the riches of nature often come to mind. These foods and, even flowers, are excellent symbols of vibrant health and vitality. Keep the landscape around your home trimmed, attractive, healthy and lush to invite good health to your home. Keep a bowl of fruit on your table or kitchen counter to symbolize growth and health.
Add wood for new beginnings.
When life has you frustrated or you feel like you are stuck or stagnant, think green. Just like the first blades of grass that peek up in winter represents new life and spring coming, so, too, does the wood element represent new beginnings in your life.
Add plants or flowers to your home when you’ve had a physical, health, or emotional set back. Dress up your front door with new pots by the door, add some potted herbs in the kitchen, or flowers in your living room or dining table. Grouping plants in three’s is especially auspicious and is great for when you want to start growing again. Walk outdoors and take a “tree bath” to help boost your social life!
Add decorative wood elements for more growth.
Whether it’s a small plant on a side table or some bamboo shades on your windows, introducing some wood elements like baskets or trays will add healthful and growing energy to your life. Even some throw pillows or decorative elements in green color will had the spark of green, growing and abundant energy to your home.
Keep plants in check for emotional balance.
One of the ways the wood element can be distressing is when there are too many plants or floral motifs in your home. This can cause anger or anger-related depression. It can also harm health and relationships. Avoid plants and floral motifs in the bedroom or in the center of the home. Never let plants such as ivies become stringy or leggy, and avoid over-crowding with plants. A few plants that are healthy and attractive are better than too many or when they’re crowded. This represents lack of growth and can cause relationship difficulties.
Let trees and wood support you.
Plant two plants or trees on either side of your door as protection. They will act as guardians for you. If your home has a slope behind it, add five trees at the rear of the house to give you support and help you keep money and opportunity from falling away from you.
Keep trees trimmed and watch for stumps.
Trees emit powerful energy, whether they’re dead or alive. Never cut down a tree and leave the stump as this represents a cutting off of health and can be very harmful. Watch that trees are regularly trimmed and not overgrown as shade can create health and family problems.
When trees or shrubs are dead, grow on the house, or touch the house, this can cause health problems, so make certain you throw out any plants that are not lush and healthy looking and keep trees trimmed. A plant that looks like it’s struggling can cause problems with growth and harm your health.
Wood element anger.
If you’re feeling angry or if your family members are arguing and bickering, there may be too much wood energy in your home. To bring back family harmony add red colors in the family room, such as toss pillows, and light a candle for the dining room table, especially if arguments begin at the table and if the table is rectangle or square shaped. Candles and red colors will help to control anger.
Enhance the east and southeast corners for personal growth.
If life has felt stagnant and you feel stuck, activate your east and southeast corner give your life a new boost. A water fountain in the corners will help feed the wood energy here and the sound of running water will help you 
get unstuck and begin anew in your life. Water is the element of transformation and wood is the element of personal growth – combined they’ll get you unstuck and feeling movement once more in your life.
Auspicious wood element symbols for wealth and life.
For more wealth, add a fleshy-leaved plant, like the jade plant, to the southeast corner of your home. Flowers, like chrysanthemums and orchids, are also very auspicious here and activate wealth energy. In the east, bamboo, pine trees and fruiting trees represent abundant health, vitality and happy family relationships.
